A watch list of the top running backs in the nation has been released by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum on Thursday. The Doak Walker Award watch list is full of great players, including 2016 Doak Walker Award semifinalists Saquon Barkley (Penn State) and Kamryn Pettway (Auburn).

Among those included on this year’s initial Doak Walker Award watch list (more players can be added at any time) are LSU’s Derrius Guice, Georgia’s Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, LJ Scott of Michigan State, Mike Weber of Ohio State, and Bo Scarbrough of Alabama, Washington’s Myles Gaskin, and Western Michigan’s Jarvion Franklin.

D’Onta Foreman of Texas beat out both Barkley and Pettway last season for the award. The Doak Walker Award has been presented to the nation’s top running back annually since 1990. Among the winners over the years have included Ricky Williams, LaDainian Tomlinson, Reggie Bush, and Montee Ball.

To be included on this watch list, the university athletic department must submit a nomination.

WHO: Minnesota (8-4) vs. Washington State (8-4)WHAT: The 39th National Funding Holiday BowlWHEN: 7:00 PM ET, ESPNWHERE: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CATHE SKINNY: Minnesota will be down a number of players due to a controversial decision by the school to suspend 10 players from football activities, which caused a bit of a distraction during the prep for the bowl matchup. A team decision to boycott team activities until their suspended teammates were reinstated was aborted after a short period of time and some clarity to the situation was provided. That may or may not play a major factor in the preparation for the game at this point, but the fact 10 players will be missing is not to be overlooked. Minnesota may be a decent defensive team, but they could easily be worn down in the worst possible area against Washington State’s pass-heavy offensive approach.

The quarterback showdown alone between Mitch Leidner of Minnesota and Luke Falk of Washington State will be intriguing considering each could be playing football in the NFL in the near future. Mike Leach will have Falk passing on first, second and third downs all game long, with Gabe Marks being his top target. That passing game should have some opportunities to make some big plays that could hurt Minnesota in a hurry.

The Gophers will be a bit more balanced on offense (as most Washington State opponents tend to be by comparison). The Gophers will contrast with more of a running game with 1,000-yard rusher Rodney Smith leading the charge on the ground. Leidner is capable of picking up some yards on the ground as well.

Washington State’s season may not have ended the way it had hoped for the bulk of the season, but it looks to have a favorable chance to end things on a high note against the Gophers.

All that matters is getting a win, and it rarely matters how you get it. No. 2 TCU (1-0) opened the season on the road Thursday night, but they did so with quarterback Trevone Boykin having some off moments that helped allow Minnesota (0-1) to hang around. Fortunately, TCU’s defense was up to the task, holding their Big Ten hosts to fewer than 300 yards of offense until late in the game in a 23-17 win.

It was not the cleanest effort from TCU, with a pair of turnovers, Boykin’s pass completion percentage leaving room for improvement, and eight penalties. One thing to take from this game is TCU head coach Gary Patterson now knows what he needs to work on. Still, TCU went on the road and shut down a team some feel is capable of making things interesting in the Big Ten West Division this season. The Gophers have plenty of time this season to help boost TCU’s body of work in the long run, and Jerry Kill has now seen how much work he still needs to do.

Boykin completed 26 of 42 pass attempts for 246 yards and a touchdown. He also added 86 rushing yards and a touchdown to help make his night look a little more productive. His lone touchdown pass came in the first quarter on an 11-yard pass to Josh Doctson, putting TCU up 10-0 after one quarter of play. Minnesota was left playing catch-up the rest fo the night and never cut the lead down to fewer than seven points. Boykin ran 19 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to put the Horned Frogs up 17-3.

Minnesota’s offensive leaders had little to show. Mitch Leidner completed 16 of 30 attempts for 158 yards. Rodney Smith led the ground game with 88 yards and a touchdown.

Next week Minnesota will head to Fort Collins, Colorado to take on Colorado State. The Rams are coming off one of the more successful seasons in program history but could have a much different look this season. Jim McElwain left the program to coach Florida, which opened a spot for former Georgia assistant Mike Bobo to take the helm. Colorado State lost a number of key players. Minnesota’s secondary should be tested by Rams receiver Rashard Higgins, who accumulated 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns last fall. Colorado State opens the season at home against Savannah State, so they should be 1-0 when the Gophers come to town.

TCU will return home to open the home schedule next week against Stephen F. Austin. things should be pretty easy going for the Horned Frogs next week and thew week after at home against SMU. TCU opens Big 12 play later this month on the road against Texas Tech.